Wire-stretcher.



W. B. BELGARD.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATHJN mm on. 1. I911.

Patented May 21,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 54 WWIZOt [d 25. Zqmra? 1 ill) W. B. BELGARD.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED 001.1.1911.

1,267,308. Patented May 21,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET ii i f 7% *Q UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. BELGABD, OF BOYCE, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CLAUDE A. COPENHAVER, OF ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA.

WERE-STRE'IGHER.

Application filedlqctoher. 1, 1917.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it knownt'hat LNVIIJAAM. B. Beware, citizen of. the United States, residin at Boyce, in the parish. of Bapides and t tatc f Louisiana, have invented certain new nd useful Improvements in lVir-e-Stretchers; and I; do declare the following be a full, clear, and exact description of the inven' tion, such as will. enable others skilled in the art to which it uppertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in wire stretchers.

The primary object of the invention to provide a wire stretcher which is used for stretching woven fence wire, it being provided with a clamp for tightly holding the fence wire to the wire stretcher.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved mechanism for stretching the Wire,

A still further object of the invcntion to provide a device of this class which will be extremely simple, strong, durable and inexpensive in construction, one which will be efficient and. reliable in operation and well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.-.

With these and numerous other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In, the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application, and in, which similar reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the wire stretcher, showing the manner in which it is used to stretch the wiresof a fence:

Fig, 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the wire stretcher;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the stretcher taken on a plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a si e view of a wire stretcher. showing a modified, form of ratchet mechanism; and,

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 4a

In the embodiment illustrated the numerads 1 and 2 represent the outer and inner clamping bars or members respectively. These two memb rs 1 and 2 are made of strong and comparatively heavy material,

Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1918.

Serial No. 194,224.

referably of wood, and are to be of a length sight-1y gieaoer than the distance between the uppermost and lowermost fence wires. They are, hingedly connected together at their corresponding ends, preferably their upper ends, by means of a suitable strap hinge 3, The bar 2 carries a pair of pimection's in the form of bolts 4. which extends toward the bar 1. and through, openings 5. arranged in the same. These bolts 4 and incidentally the openings 5 are disposed adjacent the opposite ends of the bars and serve as a means for guiding the latter properly toward each other, as will be readily understood.

Secured to the outer side of the bar 2 by means of lag screws 6 which extend through its ends into the bar 2, is a substantially U- shaped yoke bar 7. This yoke bar 7' is also preferably constructed of wood and has screwed to its outer side at its intermediate portion a metal plate 8. The plate 8 is provided, with a central opening. This opening isalined with openings arran ed. in the bars 1,2 and 7. Through all of tiezseopenings extends a shaft 9, one end ofv which is squared at 10 and provided with a fixed collar 11 which bears against the metal plate 8. The purpose of the plate 8 is thus to take the wear oif of the yoke bar 7 and to reduce the friction caused by the pressure of the collar 11, which would otherwise result, The other end of the shaft 9 is screw threaded and extends through the threaded opening of a nut 12. This nut 12 is prevented from rotating when the shaft is rotated by being disposed in a recess 13 arranged in the outer side of the bar 1. It is prevented from falling from place should the shaft 9 be open ated so as to entirely disengage its threaded end from the same by means of a cap memher 14 which is secured to the bar 1, in any suitable manner.

The reference numeral 15 designates an open rectangular frame, one end of which surrounds the bar 2 and has apertures in its opposite sides adjacent said end through which the shaft 9 extends. This prevents movement of the frame 15 relative to the bar 2. The sides of the frame adjacent its other end are provided with. openings which serve as bearings for a shaft 16, one end of saidshaft projecting a slight distance to the exterior ofthe adjacent side and being squared as shown at 17'. Mounted upon the shall H3 in a suitable manner is a small grooved sprocket wheel or drum 18 on which a chain or other flexible element 19 is wound, one end of said chain being l'()llll((fl1(*(l to the wheel or drum in any convenient manner. Formed integrally with one end of the drum is an annular series of ratchet teeth 20. 'lhese teeth :50 are adapted to be engaged by a dog 21 which pivoted to the adjacent side of the frame 15 and on the interior of the same. The chain 19 passes through an opening in the adjacent end of the frame, although this is not absolutely necessary.

In using the device above described the shaft 9 is turned in such a direction that the bars 1 and 2 may be moved or swung away from each other. The shaft may be operated by means of a crank arm 23 which is adapted to engage or fit over the squared portion 10 thereof. The various strands of the fence wire a; are then inserted in relatively spaced relation between the bars 1 and 2, and said bars are then drawn toward each other by operating the shaft 9 in the opposite direction. Aftcr the said bars are tightly drawn together, the shaft continues to be rotated, drawing the middle portion of the yoke-bar toward the middle portion of the bar 2, thereby exerting a pressure against the ends of the yoke-bar and thus distributing the clamping pressure substantially equally to the different Wires of the fence being stretched. When turned as far as it will go, the free end of the chain 19 is hooked or otherwise connected to one of the fence portion b or some other immovable support and the crank arm 23 fitted on to the squared portion of the shaft 16. This shaft is then turned so as to wind the inner end of the chain 19 upon the wheel or drum 18 until the fence Wires are put under sufficient tension. The dog 21 engages the ratchet teeth 20 and prevents retro rade movement of the shaft 16 thus holding the fence Wires stretched until they are firmly anchored to the fence posts.

In Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings a modified form of ratchet mechanism is shown. In these figures no detachable crank is necessary, as the shaft 16 is provided exteriorly of the frame 15 with a ratchet wheel 24, and straddling this rigid wheel and loosely connected to the shaft 16 is a handle 25, the inner end of which is forked to position it in this manner. Between the two arms of the forked portion of the handle is a web 26 which is adapted to engage the ratchet teeth of the wheel 24. The handle is loosely connected to the shaft16 so that it may be moved laterally with respect to the same, this permits the web 26 to be engaged and disengaged from the ratchet wheel. In operatin this ratchet mechanism, the handle is move toward the shaft until the web 26 is disposed between two of the teeth of the ratchet Wheel and the shaft is then turned a portion of a revolution, the handle is then disengaged from the rigid wheel and moved back and again engaged with the latter. This may be repeated until the shaft is turned the desired amount. The dog 21 engaging the ratchet teeth carried on one end of the wheel or drum l8 prevents retrograde movement of this shaft. The handle 25 may be held in upright position by means of a keeper 27 which is pivoted to the bar 2 and which swings down to engagement with the latter when it is not desired to use the same.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings the construction, use and operation of the device will be readily understood. It will be seen that the obj ects of the invention have been effectively carried out as a very simple and efficient manner for clamping a plurality of strands of fence wire to the device has been provided.

As various changes in form, proportion. and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of this invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the construction herein shown and described other than as claimed.

I claim.

1. In a clamping device, the combination of two normally substantially parallel clamping bars, a yoke-bar having its middle portion spaced from said clamping bars and iaving its end portions connected to the respective end portions of one of said clamping bars, and means cooperative with said yoke bar for drawing said clamping bars toward one another.

2. In a clamping device, the combination of two normally substantially parallel clamping bars, a yoke-bar having its middle ortion spaced from said clamping bars and iaving its end portions connected to the respective end portions of one of said clamping bars, and a shaft extending through the middle portions of said clamping bars and yoke-bar and being operable, to press the middle and end portions of said clamping bars into clamping relation, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described comprising a pair of barsbetween which a plurality of wires are to be clamped, said bars being hingedly connected together at one of their ends, means for guiding said bars together as they are drawn together, means for drawing said bars together, a frame secured to one of said bars a winding shaft mounted on said frame and having a flexible element connected at one end thereto to be wound upon the same, means for preventing retrograde movement of said shaft, a ratchet wheel mounted upon said shaft, and a handle having a forked portion straddling said IOI raehet wheel and having its arms loosely connected to said shaft to permit the portion of said handle \vhieh is disposed between said arms to he moved into and out of engagement with the teeth of said ratchet Wheel.

4. In a clamping and stretching device. the r-ombination of a clamping bar apertured at its middle portion. a frame provided with an aperture and emhraeing said clamping bar in such relation that the apertures of said bar and frame register with one another, a shaft extending through the registering aperture and thereby securing said frame and elamping bar in fixed relation to one another. a serond clamping bar. means cooperative with said shaft for drawing the first and second said elamping bars toward one another, and means cooperative with said frame for moving said clamping bars and frame and shaft sinmltaneonsly.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. BELGARD.

W itnesses:

J. F. BEAMAN, A. B. HUNDLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

